Dating back to the 1860’s the pub has always been called The American. Why exactly we don’t know but being on Belfast’s dockside it would have had links to the Americas through shipping, trade and emigration, not least during the Irish famine of the mid 1800’s.
Historically the pub would have been frequented by dockers, carters and riveters… truly the hard men of Belfast. Sailortown is also the home of the legendry Belfast boxer Rinty Monaghan, an undisputed world champion in the 1940’s. His photograph along with other Belfast champions fill the back wall.
This new chapter commenced in October 2016 and the pub is once more alive with impromptu music sessions, poetry and gigs over two floors. The walls are adorned with both Sailortown and American photographs and paraphernalia – car number plates, boxers, scarfs, beer signs and mirrors.